The Dickinson press., 1887-07-09
TEA STORES TOYS.
QUEER DISCOVERIES MADE BY AN
INoUlsITIVE NEWSPAPER MAN.

.'s NSSNsNe
The Latest Thing In Mechanical Toys-In
Demand by the Tea Stores-The Cheap
Chrome Craze and the Gift I3usi-
ness.
The latest thing in mechanical toys can be
seen in one or two stores on Broadway.
Placed in the show windows, the toy attracts
great crowds. 1t is of German origin, and it
first made its appearance here before the hol-
idays. 1t represents an old man in dressing
gown and nightcap cndeavoring to annihilate
n rat with something that looks like a tennis
bat. What tickles the risibilities Of the adj
miring crowd outside the window is the ex-
preston of nbject disappointment on the old
mans face as he strikes whore the rat ought
to DO. The toy when wound up will attract
n crowd and keep pickpockcts busy for about
two hours.
Curiosity impellcd the writer to seek some
information about the origin and price of
this man and rat combination. He did not
intend to purchase. Being n married man he
gets rats" at home ut first cost. 4 young
man-further description OF him is unncces-
sary. he was n Broadway c~lerk-smiled and
pulled out n pad, us though lie was about to
take an order. When informed that curios-
ity was the object of his visit his suavity did
not desert hin-he was still n Broadway
clerk.
The courteous clerk explained that his chief
imported half n dozen of the toys last year.
They cost about So each, and We're sold at
from 50 to $40. He continues: "Our firm,
having q toy factory, resolved to find work.
men in this country capable of making the
same kind of mechanism. They succeeded,
and now the toys are made at n cost of about
$50 a Dozen"
VI OF TEA AND COFFEE.
"Do you sell many!"
"Ycs. as fast rs we can manufacture A
few days ago we had an order for fifty from
a western retail tea store"
"What would n tea store want with such
things"
"Tlcv give them away to purchasers of ten
and coffee. These tea men nowadays give
away many things in our line. We sell them
dolls, toilet sets, boxes of paints, and many
other knirkknacks. just go up to Grand
street and see what they have in their win
dows to give away to customers"
Thanking the urlnne Broadway clerk, the
reporter wendell his way to Grand street to
find out how tea stores can afford to be so
liberal.
In due time he stepped into q store, the
Leading tint of which was vermilion. There
was nothing to distinguish the interior from
n crockery store except the vermilion and a
strong odor of roasted coffee. Tho reporter
approached nan who presided over the cash
desk and wore n polo cap and n sweet smile,
and who proved to he the manager of the
concern, and asked how tea stores could be SO
lavish with crockery md such things to their
patrons.
"Some years ago." said the wearer of the
polo cap, "a house in this city began giving
away cheap chromos. That was the begin
ming of the evil. Their trade increased, for
in those days people were chrome crazy. The
introduction of glassware and crockery had
its origin i'll the inv entive brain of n man whc
is now very wealthy and is i'll business OF
Second avenue. l wish he was in Jericho
Then began sharp competition. Each te,
man We'd with the others i'll inventing som,
new flake" to catch the foolish housekeeper
The customers when posted in this gift enter
prise business became very exacting.
shouldn't he surprised some day to hear
lady asking for a ton of coal or n piano afte
purchasing five pounds of ten.
BASIS OF THE BUSINESS.
"With every purchase of tea and coffee w
give tickets in this way. With ono pound o
fifty cent tea or with two pounds of thirt.
cent coffee we give one whole ticket. This i
the basis. Some articles that we give ava,
such as lamps and clocks-require rs man,
as twenty-five full tickets. One ticket OH n
average is equal to from six to eight cents Of
the profits"
"Your profits must be pretty large to pei
nit of such liberality," suggested the re
porter.
"Well, now l don't mind telling you, sine
you seem anxious. Our teas at fifty rents
pound cost lis about twenty-one cents, an
our coffee Mt thirty cents, when we sell
ground, stands lis about twelve cents apound
so, you see, even though we are liberal, W
will make IL large profit"
"You say when you sell the coffee ground:
"That's what l said. You see, chickory
rye, and peas do not cost as much as coffee.
sand where do they come in!"
"Ah, l see you are not on to many of tn
tricks of our trade. Don't you know tho
when we sell ground coffee nearly half of
is chickory, rye, and peasl Great Scot
man, how do you think We ore going to liy
and give an eight day clock Awith ten who,
t~ickets?"
"Do you adulterate you teas, too"
"Well, no; that would not pay. You 81
we mix coffee and blend teas. By blending
mean we mix good, bad, and middling t.
gether, call it some outlandish combinatio
or chop and let her go.'"-New York He
aid.